On my recent ventures into retro listening, I've tested two cassette players: the Gadhouse MIKO and the We Are Rewind Cassette Player. With a $60 price difference between the two models, I wasn't expecting there to be a stark difference, but I was surprised.
I knew that by spending more, the materials would be a lot sturdier, but when it comes to cassette players, a lot of what you're hearing is down to the headphones you use. So is there a tangible difference in sound if you keep things fair?
I tested these cassette players with the same headphones and the same tapes and came to the conclusion that if you want the best quality possible, you need to spend some extra cash.
Build quality
There's a pretty stark difference in the build quality between the two players. The MIKO is made from plastic and feels more like a McDonald's Happy Meal toy, whereas the We Are Rewind is made from aluminum and can withstand a lot more.
This added stability also means that any movement doesn't affect the tape's playing. On the other hand, the MIKO suffers a little from movement, which is problematic if you plan to take it with you on a walk.
The buttons on the We Are Rewind are also a lot sturdier and more responsive. This felt like a direct result of higher-quality materials being used. That's not to say that the MIKO doesn't work; it's just that the buttons felt a lot more fatiguing to press repeatedly.
How the build affects sound
A lot of how a cassette player sounds comes down to the headphones being used — but having a bad quality cassette player can make your tapes sound, well, tired.
The tapes I listened to sounded more muffled when played through the MIKO, whereas the We Are Rewind player sounded a lot brighter and accentuated more details without the hiss of the tape winding. Having a sturdy build makes everything a lot more secure, including the connection with the tape, and so, a cheaper player can cause distortion.
But I don't think the MIKO is a bad cassette player. In fact, while I was listening to it, it took me right back to my childhood because it reminded me so much of how my old cassette player sounded. I was simply amazed at how much better the We Are Rewind player sounded for $60 extra.
Is it worth spending more on cassette players?
Ultimately, I think it depends on the effect you want from your music. You're never going to get perfect sound quality when listening to tapes anyway.
As much as it might pain you to hear this, for proper audiophile-grade sound, you need to stream it from services like Qobuz using the highest audio codecs.
Still, folks that want to re-create the sounds of their youths are better served with a slightly more premium player — you simply get a more reliable result when living out your retro audio daydream.
More from Tom's Guide
- Forget your old Walkman: We Are Rewind’s cassette player makes mixtapes modern with Bluetooth and a rechargeable battery
- Cassette collectors are in luck with this $99 portable player from Gadhouse — I tested it to find out whether it’s worth your money
- I've been testing this cassette walkman, and I'm having a blast reliving my childhood
